Evren Anil was threatened with a knife and punched when confronting one of the youths who threw a half-eaten chocolate bar through his sister's car window.

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The youths, aged 16 and 17, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Old Bailey.

They were remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 4 April.

Mr Anil, of Upper Norwood, south-east London, suffered head injuries and fell into a coma when he was attacked on 5 August, 2007.

He was with his 26-year-old sister Elif, who was driving the car, when teenagers threw rubbish through an open window as they waited at traffic lights.

The 17-year-old admitted throwing a chocolate bar wrapper through the window of Mr Anil's car, the court heard.

Jo Korner QC, prosecuting, said: "Having done so the defendant was confronted by the deceased and a verbal dispute ensued.

"There was some physical contact between the two involving the deceased grabbing the defendant's T-shirt. This resulted in the defendant punching the deceased."

She said the 17-year-old also admitted taking out a knife to frighten Mr Anil but claimed he did not intend to use it, then passed it to the other teenager.

Miss Korner said the 16-year-old's version of events, that "at no stage did he threaten Mr Anil with a knife" and only used the weapon to threaten another man, was not accepted.

The 16-year-old from Thornton Heath, south-east London, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and knife possession as his trial was due to begin at the Old Bailey on Monday.

The 17-year-old from Tottenham, north London, admitted the two charges on Tuesday.

Reporting restrictions meant the 16-year-old's pleas could only be reported on Tuesday.

Judge Ann Goddard said: "It seems to me custody is the appropriate outcome."

'Challenge yobs' behaviour'

Following the incident Det Ch Insp Cliff Lyons said: "He (Mr Anil) challenges their behaviour and this is what happens.

"People are entitled to challenge these yobs' behaviour.

"When they produced the knife he tried to get back in the car. Your life is worth more than a chocolate bar."

Mr Anil, who was of Turkish origin, was in the first week of his job after graduating with a first class degree in computer science from Kingston University.

At a vigil held after his death friends described him as the "kindest person who never hurt anybody".

(BBC)

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